JP2002044456A - Image processor, system, method and medium - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To contrive the modification of the sharpness of an image processor by a method, where when users transmit a read image to various output equipment connected with each other through a network from an IP product operating part, the corrections of a filter for responding to the selected output equipment is automatically applied. SOLUTION: An image processor had a read means (209) for reading images, a luminous density conversion means (203) for converting a luminous signal read by the means (209) into a density signal, a digital filter means (204) for performing smoothing process, and luminous density adjusting process for the converted data by the luminous density conversion means (203) based on the output device, a filter coefficient setting means (207) for setting the coefficient of the means (204), an output selection means (213) which can select arbitrary output destination from an operating part, and a network connection means (214) for connecting the output destination with a network. The value set for the coefficient set by the means (207) is changed over; according to the output destination selected by the means (213) for processing a filter.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

[0001] The present invention relates to an image processing apparatus, method and medium.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a system device (MF) having a function of facsimile, a function of a printer, a function of copying, etc.
P (multifunction peripheral) has been proposed. This means that a single device has a plurality of functions and boasts a small space and high productivity.

[0003] As for the printer function, a network connection has been made so that it can be used not as a personal printer but as a network printer.

For this reason, an MFP having various functions
Has been proposed to output a read image to various output devices connected on a network.

Further, there has been proposed a method of transferring a read image to a PC connected to a network and managing the read image on the PC.

[0006]

However, various output devices connected to the network have different characteristics. For example, sharpness.

A means for correcting this is called sharpness, which corresponds to filter processing.

However, in the current MFP, the filter coefficient is switched for each mode such as the character mode and the photograph mode, but the filter coefficient is not switched for each transmission destination.

Therefore, when data is transmitted to various printers or other MFPs or PCs connected on the network, the data becomes blurred or edge enhancement becomes too effective due to differences in the characteristics of the printers. There was a problem.

[0010] In particular, when data is transferred to a PC while keeping the filter coefficients imagining the output of the printer, when the image is viewed on the PC, the image sometimes looks too edge-emphasized.

[0011]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, the present invention has been proposed to solve the above-mentioned problems, and its object is to provide a plurality of output devices connected on a network. Therefore, it is an object of the present invention to perform processing suitable for each of them, and to perform optimum edge enhancement by different filter processing according to a preferred embodiment.

In order to achieve the above object, an image processing apparatus according to the present invention comprises a filter means for spatially filtering an image signal obtained by reading a target image by a reading means; a setting means for setting characteristics of the filter means; An output destination selected by the means, a network connection means for network connection, and a control means for controlling the setting of the setting means according to the output destination selected by the output destination selection means. I do.

Further, the image signal is a density signal converted from the image signal read by the reading means.

Further, the output destination selecting means is means for selecting the output destination according to a user's instruction.

Further, the present invention is characterized by the configuration of an image processing system having the above-mentioned apparatus and the above-mentioned reading means.

Further, the image processing system is characterized in that the reading means is a document reading scanner.

Further, the output destination includes a printer.

Further, the output destination includes a PC.

The present invention is also characterized by an image processing method and a medium having the above-described functions.

[0020]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS (First Embodiment) An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

(● Process Outline) FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an outline of the entire system processing configuration according to an embodiment of the present invention.

The image reading unit includes a lens 201, a CCD,
An original image 200 formed by a sensor 202, an analog signal processing unit 203, and the like, and formed on the CCD sensor 202 via the lens 201, is converted into an analog electric signal by the CCD sensor 202. The converted image information is input to an analog signal processing unit, and is subjected to analog-to-digital conversion (A / D conversion) after performing sample & hold, dark level correction, and the like. The digital signal thus converted is input to the image processing unit 204.

The image processing unit 204 performs a shading correction and a filtering process, which is a feature of the present embodiment, in consideration of a reading system and an output device, and performs a smoothing process (not shown) for easy understanding of the description. , Density correction processing, etc., and output to the printer unit 205.

Although not shown in the present embodiment, the printer unit 205 includes, for example, an electrophotographic image forming unit, that is, an exposure control unit including a laser or the like, an image forming unit, a transfer paper transport control unit, and the like. The input image signal is recorded on transfer paper. Further, the printer section may be another forming means, for example, ink jet recording.

The output from the image processing unit 204 can transmit data to an output device connected to the network via the network 214.

Whether to output data to the printer 205 or to output data to the network via 214 is controlled by the CPU circuit unit 210.

The CPU circuit section 210 includes a CPU 206, an R
An image reading unit 209, an image processing unit 204, a printer unit 205,
By controlling the operation unit 213 and the like, the sequence of the present apparatus is comprehensively controlled.

The operation unit 213 includes a RAM 211 and a ROM.
212 are prepared in advance, and characters can be displayed on the UI and information set by the user can be stored.

Information set by the user on the operation unit 213 is sent to the image reading unit 209, the image processing unit 204, the printer unit 205, and the like via the CPU circuit unit 210.

(Outline of Data Transmission) Next, before describing the details of the image processing section of the present embodiment, an outline of data transmission relating to the features of the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG.

In this embodiment, a configuration is considered in which data is transmitted from one MFP to various output devices. The MFP that performs the data transmission is an apparatus called iR # 1 shown in 100. It has the functions of a scanner, a printer, and a network connection, and can output scanned data to its own printer or send it to other network-connected printers, MFPs, or PCs. It has a configuration.

At this time, in the MFP in which the scanner and the printer are integrated as shown in 100, the reading characteristics and the output characteristics can be grasped in advance, so that when reading the read data to the own printer, In addition, a filter coefficient can be created so that an output image assumed in advance is obtained.

However, as described above, the devices such as 101 and 102 and MEP1 connected on the network are installed at a remote place even though they are the same model as iR # 1 for transmitting the read data. Therefore, the output characteristics of each printer cannot be grasped. That is, it is not possible to grasp the installed environment and the state of consumption of the drum of the output device, and therefore, it is not possible to perform the optimal filtering.

Therefore, in the present embodiment, data correction using standard filter coefficients negotiated under a certain environment is performed for devices of the same model whose output characteristics are unknown in the configuration described later. did.

Thus, standard filter correction processing can be performed by another output device of the same type connected to the network, without being affected by the filter coefficients determined in the local environment such as the environment and the state of the drum. become.

On the other hand, the MFP 2 shown in FIG.
And the output device shown in FIG. That is, the model from which the data is read is different from the output device. Therefore, the present embodiment is characterized in that, when data is transmitted to an output device of a different model, data corrected with a standard filter coefficient is transmitted.

The standard filter coefficient here is M
This is a filter coefficient determined for a model of FP2 in a certain environment.

Similarly, for the printer indicated by 105, standard filter coefficients dedicated to the printer of the model are prepared in the 100 MFPs on the sending side, and when the printer is selected on the sending side. The data is transmitted after the data is corrected by the above-described printer filter coefficient.

The purpose of the PC shown at 104 is to observe data on the display of the PC. Therefore, it is not necessary to perform correction in consideration of the characteristics of the printer. In such a case, data transmission is performed after correction using a filter coefficient taking only the characteristics of the scanner into consideration.

Further, when storing image data in the built-in HDD shown in 103, correction using filter coefficients taking into account only the characteristics of the scanner is performed so that data can be transmitted to the above-mentioned PC after storage. It is characterized by.

(● Image Processing Unit) Next, the characteristic image processing unit 204 of this embodiment will be described with reference to FIG.

The digital image signal output from the analog signal processing unit 203 in FIG.
1 is input. The shading correction unit 301 corrects variations in sensors that read the original and light distribution characteristics of the original certification lamp.

The brightness / density conversion unit 302 converts the data of the shading corrected data 301 from a brightness signal to a density signal by Log conversion.

The conversion formula is as follows.

D = −255 × LOG (in / 255) ÷ Dmax

In the above equation, in is the shading correction circuit unit 3.
01, and D is an output from the luminance / density conversion unit 302. Dmax is the maximum density value output from the printer, and normalization is performed using the maximum density value by 255. Here, since the input and output are assumed to be 8 bits, they are clipped at 0,255.

The filter processing section 303 of this embodiment performs correction processing according to the read characteristics and output characteristics of the data of the luminance and density converted 302. This is M
It is composed of a coefficient of xN, and details thereof will be described later, but one example is a value as shown in FIG.

The point of this embodiment is that the operation unit 2 described later
In other words, the CPU circuit 210 sets different filter coefficient values for the read data transmission destination in the filter processing unit 303 in accordance with the setting of 13.

By the operation from the operation unit, the optimum filter coefficient value according to the printer, MFP, PC or the like to output is selected, and the optimum sharpness correction can be performed.

(● Operation Unit) Next, the details of the operation unit related to the above-mentioned points of the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. The operation unit is constituted by a so-called touch panel in which a display surface and an operation surface are integrated.

Reference numeral 500 denotes the entire operation unit of the image transmission source; 501, a tab for copying; 502, a tab for transmitting read data over a network;
Reference numeral 3 denotes a tab for storing read data in a local HDD, and reference numeral 504 denotes a tab for transmitting read data to an MFP of the same model via a network.

First, description will be made in order from the description when the copy tab 501 is selected.

Reference numeral 505 in FIG. 5 shows information referred to during normal copying. For example, the information includes a reading magnification, an output paper size, and the number of output sheets. The setting for this is 5
Buttons 06, 507 and 508.

Reference numeral 509 denotes a sorter setting; 510, a double-sided copy setting; and 511, an application mode setting. In this application mode, it is possible to set the sharpness that has been shaken in several steps, the amount of background removal for removing fog, and the like.

Reference numeral 513 denotes a button for selecting whether to perform density correction manually or automatically.
Reference numeral 12 denotes a button for selecting a mode corresponding to a document to be read. The reading mode includes a character mode, a character photograph mode, a photograph mode, and the like, and an optimal density correction curve and a filter coefficient are automatically set according to each mode.

In this embodiment, when the scanner that reads an image and the output device that prints out are the same, it is called a local output, and reading characteristics and output characteristics can be grasped in advance. Although the filter coefficient value will be described later, an optimum coefficient value is set.

Next, the case where the transmission tab 502 is selected will be described with reference to FIG.

This is for transmitting data read from the scanner to various output devices via a network.

Reference numeral 600 denotes the entire operation unit.
Is for setting reading. Although details are not shown, in this reading setting, selection of color reading / black and white reading and selection of reading resolution (300 dpi or 6
00 dpi) and a reading mode (character mode / character / photo mode / photo mode). Further, a specific example will be described with reference to FIG. 9. However, 602 indicates selection of a transmission destination, 607 indicates the selection result, 603 indicates detailed settings for setting the same sharpness and background removal amount as in the application mode described above, and 604 indicates 607 Is a button for deleting the selected destination displayed in.

Reference numeral 605 denotes a button for outputting the image sent to the transmission destination to a local printer, so that the transmission image can be confirmed by the transmission source.

Further, 606 is a one-touch transmission destination.
The button is used to determine whether to use e-mail, I-FAX, database, file, printer, or the like. Thus, the destination table 602 that tends to be a complicated operation
Easy to choose from.

FIG. 9 shows an example of a detailed screen on which the destination table 602 is selected as described above. The check marks 901 and 902 indicate that the output destination has been selected.

In this embodiment, the filter coefficient of the filter processing unit 303 of the image processing unit 204 is switched according to the output destination on the network selected from the operation unit. At this time, depending on whether the output destination selected as 901 is a PC and the received image is confirmed on the display or the output destination selected as 902 is a printer and the received image is output on the printer, It is characterized in that the filter coefficients to be switched are switched.

Next, the case where the box tab 503 is selected will be described with reference to FIG. Reference numeral 700 denotes the whole when the box tab is selected, and 701 and 702 are buttons for switching between a user box and a system box. Although a detailed description is omitted, an ordinary user uses a 701 user box and an administrator uses a 702 system box. A display unit 703 indicates data in the HDD, and the data read from the scanner is stored in the box number selected here. Also,
Reference numeral 704 denotes the usage amount of the entire HDD as a percentage.

In this embodiment, similarly to the case where the transmission tab 502 is selected, when this box is selected, a filter coefficient dedicated to the box is set in the filter processing unit 303 of the image processing unit 204 described above. this is,
This is because the correction can be performed only with the reading characteristics without considering the characteristics of the output device. Since it is only necessary to consider the characteristics of the scanner alone as in the case of the PC, it goes without saying that there is no problem even if the filter coefficients are the same as those for transmission to the PC.

Further, reference numeral 800 in FIG. 8 shows a display screen when the printer selection 504 shown in FIG. 5 is selected, which is called remote copy. This is for transmitting an image via a network to the same model as the one from which the image was read. 80
1 and 802 indicate that a data transmission destination has been selected, and the automatic setting of a filter coefficient dedicated to the same model in the filter processing unit 303 of the image processing unit 204 according to the selection of the transmission destination is described. The embodiment is characterized. In addition, data can be simultaneously transmitted to output devices of the same model that are connected to the network by a button 803 for a continuous copy button, thereby shortening the output time. At this time,
As described above, a filter coefficient dedicated to the same model is automatically set in the filter processing unit 303 of the image processing unit 204. Lastly, in the figure, “close” 804 is for closing the 800 window.

As described above, the present embodiment is characterized in that a filter coefficient is switched for each destination specified by the operation unit to correct the read data. Next, an example of the filter coefficient will be described.

(Filter Processing Unit) As described above, the numerical values shown in FIG. 10 are filter coefficient values used when transmitting read data to the PC or HDD described above. A 7 × 7 size is multiplied by each pixel shown in FIG.
The filter correction value is obtained by dividing by 28. As described before and after, one cell in FIG. 4 represents one pixel, and the image data at the pixel position of (i-3, j-3) is multiplied by the coefficient value of 1001 in FIG. 2,
The image data at the pixel position of (j-3) is multiplied by the coefficient value of 1002 in FIG. 10, and the image data at the pixel position of (i-1, j-3) is multiplied by the coefficient value of 1003 in FIG. ,
The image data at the pixel position (i, j-3) and 10 in FIG.
10 is multiplied by the coefficient value of...,... The image data at the pixel position of (i + 3, j + 3) is multiplied by the coefficient value of 1049 in FIG. It is output from the filter processing unit 303 as a correction value, that is, an edge enhancement value. And then, FIG.
After moving the attention area from the thick frame 401 to the broken line 402,
The same operation as the above-described processing is performed, and the result is sequentially output from the filter processing unit 303. In this way, the target pixel area (7 ×
7) is shifted to perform filter processing.

FIG. 10 shows an example of filter coefficient values when data is transferred to a PC or HDD. FIG. 11 shows an example of coefficient values used when printing out to a local output device. It is. As described above, a local output device is a device in which a scanner that reads data and an output device that prints out are integrated, and can output without a network. The filtering method is
Multiply each pixel shown in FIG. 4 and add the result to 1
Although the method is divided by 28, the details are omitted since they are the same as in the case of FIG. 10 described above.

FIG. 12 shows an example of a filter coefficient in the case of remote copy. FIG. 13 shows another model, that is, a printer connected to a network or an MFP of a different model.
This is a filter coefficient used when outputting to, for example, The specific calculation method is the same as that described above, and will not be described.

FIG. 14 shows the frequency characteristics of the filter set for each output destination. The horizontal axis represents frequency, and the vertical axis represents enhancement (MTF). MTF
100% is a state usually called through processing,
This is the state of the edge enhancement amount “0”. In FIG. 14,
In the case of transmitting data to a PC or an HDD, it is not necessary to consider the printer characteristics.
For the remote copy, an MTF such as 1402 created in consideration of the characteristics of the scanner / printer is used. For the remote copy / data transmission to another model, the MTF is sequentially used. It is characterized by using the increased filter coefficient. This 1401 corresponds to the filter coefficient shown in FIG. 10, 1402 corresponds to FIG. 11, 1403 corresponds to FIG. 12, and 1404 corresponds to FIG. In the present embodiment, it is needless to say that the present invention is not limited to these filter coefficients, but may be other values.

The data processed as described above is transmitted to the network via the 214 network controlled by the CPU circuit unit 210,
For example, by outputting the data to the printer 05, appropriate filter processing is realized for each transmission destination of the read data.

(Second Embodiment) Parts similar to those of the first embodiment described above in the basic device configuration in the second embodiment are assigned the same reference numerals and explanations thereof are omitted. Example 1 described above
Then, the CPU circuit unit sets the destination for each destination set on the operation unit,
The configuration for setting the filter coefficient value in the filter processing unit 303 with reference to the memory has been described. Here, a configuration having a plurality of filter processing units will be described.

FIG. 15 shows the details of the second embodiment. Each of the filter processing units 1401 to 1408 corresponds to the filter processing unit 303 of the first embodiment. That is,
By preparing in advance filter processing units necessary for the number of transmission destinations for transmitting read data and setting filter coefficient values for each transmission destination in advance, the CPU circuit unit can store data from the memory for each transmission destination. There is no need to set a coefficient value in the reading and filtering unit. In this case, the CPU circuit unit 2
Reference numeral 10 denotes a selector 1409 according to a signal from the operation unit 213.
Can be handled only by the process of switching. Therefore, when high-speed switching is required, it can be an effective means.

Thereafter, the same processing as in the first embodiment is performed. By transmitting data to the network or outputting the data to the printer 205, an appropriate filtering process is performed for each destination similarly to the first embodiment. It becomes possible.

In the above embodiment, when a plurality of transmission destinations are selected, it is necessary to perform image reading a plurality of times. However, in view of productivity, it is needless to say that it is preferable that data can be transmitted to a plurality of destinations by one reading. Therefore, by providing the read image storage unit 1501 as shown in FIG. 16, the number of times of image reading can be reduced to one. This image storage unit 1501
Is composed of a readable and writable memory, and A360
This is the amount of memory that can store one image of 0 dpi. Thus, by storing the first read image in the read image storage unit 1501, by reading data from the plurality of transmission destinations 1501, it is possible to avoid reading a plurality of images.

In this embodiment, a document reading device is provided as the reading means. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, means for a digital camera may be used. The present invention can be applied to various general-purpose networks.

(Other Embodiments of the Present Invention) Even if the present invention is applied to a system composed of a plurality of devices (for example, a host computer, an interface device, a reader, a printer, etc.), one device (for example, a copying machine, a facsimile) Device).

Further, in order to operate various devices so as to realize the functions of the above-described embodiment, a computer connected to the various devices or a computer in the system is provided with software for realizing the functions of the above-described embodiments. The present invention also includes a program code supplied and implemented by operating a computer (CPU or MPU) of the system or apparatus according to a stored program to operate the various devices.

In this case, the program code itself of the software realizes the functions of the above-described embodiment, and the program code itself and means for supplying the program code to the computer, for example, the program code The storage medium storing the information constitutes the present invention.

Examples of a storage medium for storing such a program code include a floppy (registered trademark) disk, a hard disk, an optical disk, a magneto-optical disk, and a CD-R.
An OM, a magnetic tape, a nonvolatile memory card, a ROM, or the like can be used.

When the computer executes the supplied program code, not only the functions of the above-described embodiments are realized, but also the OS (Operating System) running on the computer, or another program. Needless to say, even when the functions of the above-described embodiments are realized in cooperation with application software and the like, such program codes are included in the embodiments of the present invention.

Further, the supplied program code is stored in a memory provided in a function expansion board of a computer or a function expansion unit connected to the computer, and then stored in the function expansion board or the function storage unit based on an instruction of the program code. It is needless to say that the present invention also includes a case where a provided CPU or the like performs part or all of the actual processing, and the processing realizes the functions of the above-described embodiments.

[0084]

As described above, the image read by a specific device is filtered by switching the filter characteristic for each destination set by the operation unit and transmitted.
Filter correction suitable for each output device can be performed.

That is, even if the user is not conscious of the output characteristics of a printer or PC connected to the network,
There is an effect that appropriate filter correction can be performed.

Needless to say, the difference in edge enhancement is largely due to the MTF characteristic of the scanner when reading an image, but it goes without saying that the difference is in particular due to the scattering of toner and the resolution of the printer.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a connection state of an output device according to an embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the overall configuration of the embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a configuration according to the present invention in the first embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing corresponding pixels on which filter processing is performed.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an operation unit according to the embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an operation unit according to the embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an operation unit according to the embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing an operation unit according to the embodiment.

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing an operation unit according to the embodiment.

FIG. 10 shows filter coefficients 1 according to the present embodiment.

FIG. 11 shows a filter coefficient 2 according to the present embodiment.

FIG. 12 illustrates a filter coefficient 3 according to the present embodiment.

FIG. 13 shows a filter coefficient 4 according to the embodiment.

FIG. 14 is a graph showing characteristics of a filter coefficient.

FIG. 15 is a diagram showing a configuration according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 16 is a diagram showing a configuration according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────の Continued on the front page F term (reference) 5B057 AA11 BA02 CA08 CA12 CA16 CB08 CB12 CB16 CC01 CE03 CE04 CE06 CE11 CH01 CH07 CH11 5C062 AA05 AA14 AA35 AB20 AC42 5C077 PP03 PQ08 SS01 SS02 SS05 TT02 TT09

Claims (14)

[Claims] A filtering means for spatially filtering an image signal obtained by reading a target image by a reading means; a setting means for setting characteristics of the filtering means; an arbitrary output destination selected by an output destination selecting means; An image processing apparatus comprising: a network connection unit for connection; and a control unit that controls setting of the setting unit according to an output destination selected by the output destination selection unit. 2. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image signal is a density signal converted from the image signal obtained by the reading unit. 3. An image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said output destination selecting means is means for selecting said output destination in accordance with a user's instruction. 4. An image processing system comprising the apparatus according to claim 1 and said reading means. 5. The image processing system according to claim 4, wherein said reading means is a document reading scanner. 6. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the output destination includes a printer. 7. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the output destination includes a PC. 8. A step of spatially filtering an image signal obtained by reading a target image by a reading unit, a setting step of setting characteristics of the filter unit, an arbitrary output destination selected by an output destination selecting step,
An image processing method, comprising: a network connection step for connecting to a network; and a control step of controlling settings of the setting unit according to an output destination selected by the output destination selection unit. 9. The image processing method according to claim 8, wherein the image signal is a density signal converted from the image signal obtained by the reading unit. 10. The image processing method according to claim 8, wherein the output destination selecting step is a step of selecting the output destination in accordance with a user's instruction. 11. The image processing method according to claim 8, wherein said reading means is a document reading scanner. 12. The image processing method according to claim 8, wherein the output destination includes a printer. 13. The image processing method according to claim 8, wherein the output destination includes a PC. 14. A medium storing the image processing method according to claim 8 in a computer-executable manner.